Railroad car washer



Dec. 23, 1958 D. L, PETITE RAILROAD CAR WASHER 5 sheets-sheet 1- FiledJune 7, 1955 INVENToR.. DA V/Dy L. PET/7' BY A7705? Dec. 23

D. L. PETITE l RAILROAD CAR WASHER 5 Shawl-,s sheet 2 DAV/0 'PET/ATTORNEY Filed June 7. 1955 De. 23, 1958 DIL. PETITE RAILROAD CAR WASHER5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 7, 1955 INVENTOR.- D V/D L. PET/TE BY if@ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1958 D. L. PETITE 2,865,034

RAILROAD CAR WASHER F'led June '7, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 2/ l /ze I,

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INVENTOR.

DA V/D L. PET/TE ym @L A 7' TUR/VE Y- Dec. 23, 1958 D. L. PETITE2,865,034

- v RAILROAD CAR. WASHER Filed June rr, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 5 ullINVENTOR.`

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ATTORNEY 2,865,034 RAILROAD CAR WASHER David L. Petite, San Francisco,Calif. Application June 7, 1955, Serial No. 513,785 3 Claims. (Cl.15-53) This invention relates to a new and improved mobile railroad carwasher. More particularly, the invention relates to a self-containedunit which is self-propelled. Accordingly, it is not necessary inoperating the car wash er which is the subject of this invention tocouple with water, air, or electric current lines. Sufficient storagecapacity is included in the construction of the device so that as manyas 37 regulation passenger cars may be cleaned without the necessity ofreilling the storage tanks of the device.

One of the features and advantages of the present invention is the factthat the unit contains means for applying detergent to the sides of thecar, then brushing the sides to clean the same, and finally spraying thesides with water to rinse the detergent and loosened dirt so that it mayrun down to the ground.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of one brush oneachside of the device to clean the sides of the car and a separatebrush to clean the car windows, which are frequently inset from thevertical plane of the car sides.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of means forindependently moving the side brushes in and out toward and away fromthe car body, and for raising and lowering, as well as moving inwardlyand outwardly, the window brushes. The mounting of the brushes,hereinafter set forth in detail, insures application of uniform pressureboth at the top and bottom of the car, even though the platform overwhich the machine travels is uneven or the tracks are so located thatthe car is not perpendicular to the platfor One of the principal objectsand advantages of the invention is the saving in time and labor overmanual car washing operations. The present invention requires the use oftwo moderately skilled operato-rs to replace the large crewsconventionally required in car washing operations. At the same time, theinvention eliminates the necessity of using a switching crew oflocomotive engineer, fireman and swi-tchman.

One of the chief features and advantages of the present invention overstationary car washers of this general type is the fact that it is notnecessary to move the cars relative to the car washing machine, therebyconsiderably reducing the expense of operating the device, inasmuch as aswitching crew is not required.

A further feature of the invention is the fact that its overall width issuch that it can be moved between adjacent rows of railroad cars, eventhough the clearance between the cars is very slight. This feature ofthe invention makes it possible to employ the machine in conventionalexisting railroad yards with standard distances between adjacent tracks.

The machine is constructed with an elongated, narrow tank member on eachside and an arch over the top of the car joining the tank memberstogether. This construction insures lateral stability despite the narrowciearance between tracks and despite the considerable sideward thrustnecessarily applied when pressure is applied to force the brushesagainst the sides of the car. The construction hereinafter describedbalances the thrust of the brush on one side of the car against that onthe other, thus overcoming any tendency to tip over. The elongation ofthe tanks and the location of the mounting nited States aten Wheels onthe extreme ends of the tanks resists longitudinal tipping.

A further advantage of the invention is a swivel mounting of one tankrelative to the overhead arch and opposite tank which enables themachine to accommodate itself to unevenness of platforms and lack ofperpendicularity of the car being washed to the platform.

Another feature of the invention is its extreme maneuverability,inasmuch as the front and rear wheels are independently steered, therebymaking possible the use of the device while the cars are parked oncurves and further making possible an abrupt turn which is required whenthe machine is moved from one row of cars to the next.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingsin which similar characters of reference represent corresponding partsin each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the device partly broken away in sectionto reveal portions of the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan of the steering mechanisrn;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevation of one of the brushes used towash the sides of a car, together with its mounting and maneuveringmechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the window washing brushes,together with its mounting and maneuvering mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the structure of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a top plan of the structure of Fig. 7; and

Fig. l0 is a schematic piping diagram of the hydraulic control anddriving system.

The car washer comprises a frame on which are mounted rotary brushes andspraying equipment, as well as an engine, pumps and hydraulic controlequipment, all as hereinafter set forth in greater detail. The framecomprises an arch 21 which extends over the top and down either side ofa railroad car, and a tank 22, 23 on each side having an extended lengthand a width conforming to the clearances in a standard railroad yard.One vertical leg 24 of the arch 21 is fixed at the bottom to therighthand tank 22, and the other lower end of the arch is mounted on aswivel 26 rotatively received in a mounting bracket 25 secured atapproximately the midpoint of the lefthand tank 23; The swivel mountingenables the machine to adapt itself to uneven contours.

The arch 21 comprises a fore and an aft inverted U- shaped member 27,y28 having a vertical leg 24 on each side, a horizontal span 29 whichspans the roof of the car and a bend y31 at each of the corners. Anupper longitudinal connector 32 is disposed on each side joining thefore and aft channels 27, 28 together. The connector 32, as best shownin Fig. 1, is provided with crossbraces 33 to tie the two channelstogether in a rigid structure. Bottom longitudinal connectors 34 tietogether the lower ends of the two legs 24 on each side. The arches 21carry seats 36 for the operators elevated well above the tank so as toimprove visibility, and positioned immediately in front of suchoperators seat is a control bank 37 of hydraulic valves Vwhich controlthe various hydraulic cylinders, as hereinafter described. The machinerequires the service `of only two operators, one for each side, whocontrol the speed and steer the machine, move the brushes in and out,raise and lower the window-washing brushes, and control the ow ofdetergent and rinse Water.

The righthand tank member 22 is formed with a dividing compartment 38comprising a detergent tank 39 and a water tank 41. The lefthand tank 22comprises a water tank.

Mounted on the lefthand tank member 23 is a gasoline engine 43 ofconventional construction which is connected to a hydraulic pump 44, 47,with a clutch 46 interposed between the motor and the pump. The pump 44,47 has a high pressure stage 44 and a low pressure stage 47. Pumps 44,47 draw hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid tank 48 mounted on thelefthand tank member 23 and by means of conduits which are shown indetail in the piping diagram of Fig. 10, the uid is conducted to thevarious hydraulic motors and cylinders hereinafter described, withvalves in the bank of valves 37 at the control stations controlling owof hydraulic uid through the various conduits. Filter 49 and pressurerelief valve 51 are included in each circuit in conventional manner.

Each tank unit 22, 23 provides mounting for a pair of wheels 52 at thefront and back, each pair of wheels being mounted on an axle 53. Thefront wheels are driven by means of dual vane hydraulic motors 54mounted on support blocks 56 on the wheel motor supports 57 attached tothe front wheel forks 58 in which front axles 53 are mounted. Sprockets59, 61 are mounted on the motor shaft 62 and on the front axles 53 andconnected by roller drive chain 63.

The front wheel forks 58 project downwardly from vertical steering shaft64 which extends upwardly through the tank 22, 23, being encased in pipe66 to protect it from the action of the contents of the tank. The upperend of the shaft 64 carries a bearing 67 on which is mounted atransversely extending steering control arm 68. A pair of tension rods69 extend rearwardly from the front steering arm 68 and are attached tothe opposite sides of the rear steering control bar 71, which ispivotally mounted by means of pivot 72 on the upper surface of the tank22, 23. Rear steering control bar 71 is controlled by steering eccentric73 attached thereto, which is in turn pivotally connected to aconnecting rod 74 connected to crank 75 on the lower end of uppersteering spindle 76 which is rotatably mounted in the front channelsection 27 of arch 21 by means of pillow blocks 77. Upper steering bar78 on the upper ends of spindles 76 extends foreand aft at the upper endof the arch 21 and the upper steering bars 78 on opposite sides of themachine are connected by upper tension steering rod 74 so that the twofront wheels 52 turn together.

Steering of the front wheels 52 is accomplished by means of adouble-acting hydraulic steering cylinder 81 which is mounted on thespan 29 of the front arch 27 with its piston rod 82 pivotally connectedto the righthand upper steering bar 78. Thus by control of the flow ofhydraulic fluid into the front wheel steering cylinder 81, the frontwheels 52 may be turned in unison.

The rear wheels 52Vare also turnable. Accordingly each rear axle 53 ismounted in rear wheel fork 86 which is connected to the lower end ofvertically disposed steering shaft 87 encased in a pipe 88 inside thetank 22, 23. The upper end of shaft 87 carries a steering bearing 89 onwhich is mounted a transversely extending steering control arm 91, tothe opposite ends of which are pivotally connected longitudinallyextending lower steering tension bars 92. The forward ends of tensionbars are connected to transverse steering control bar 90, mounted onpivot 93. Bar 90 is controlled by eccentric 94 attached thereto andwhich is pivotally connected to connecting rod 96 connected to crank 95on the lower end of rear upper steering spindle 97 which is journalledin the rear channel 28 of arch 21 by means of pillow blocks 98. Theupper end of upper steering spindle 97 carries an upper steering bar 99extending longitudinally, which is oscillated by means of rear wheeldouble-acting hydraulic steering cylinder 101 having its piston rod 102connected thereto.

In order to insure that the rear wheels turn in unison the oppositeupper steering bars 99 on opposite sides of the arch are connected bytransversely extending rear upper tension steering rods 103.

To maintain proper alignment alongside the car 106, longitudinallyextending angles 107 are provided which parallel the tracks 108 wherethe car wheels are mounted on the platform, the vertical ilanges of theangles facing outwardly. The wheels 52 are provided with metal annularwearing disks 109 which bear against angles 107 and hence hold thewheels 52 in proper alignment parallel to tracks 108.

The main or side brushes 111 are made up of a plu rality of brushsections 112. Each brush section 112 is mounted on vertical brush shaft113, the lower end of which is rotatably mounted in a bearing block 114received in a fitting 116 having a clevis 117 on its lower surfacepivotally connected by means of pin 118 to the outer end of horizontallytransversely disposed piston rod 119 of hydraulic cylinder 121. Cylinder121 is pivotally connected at its opposite end to clevis 122 whichcarries counter-balance 123 slidably received in spring frame 124 ixedto tank 22, 23. Helical spring 126 surrounding rod 123 inside springframe 124 and bearing against the outer end of spring frame 124 at oneend a washer 127 xed to rod 123 at the other counterbalances the weightof the brush. Thus as hydraulic pressure is applied to the opposite endsof cylinder 121, bearing block 114 is moved in or out, being guided bythe transversely disposed channel 128 fixed to tank 22, 23 so that brush111 is moved toward and away from the sides of the car being washed.Channel 128 supports the weight of the brush, its driving motor 136 andthe bearings at either end of shaft 113.

The upper end of brush shaft 113 is rotatably received in a bearingblock 131 which slides in the throat 132 of a C-shaped horizontallydisposed guide frame 133, which controls transverse inward and outwardmovement of the upper end of brush 111 with respect to the side of thecar being washed. Guide frame 133 guides in and out movement of theupper end of the brush 111 and also transmits the torque of rotation ofthe brush to the arch 21. The upper end of bearing block 131 isconnected to a motor mounting support 134 which carries a hydraulicmotor 136 and a coupling 137 connecting the motor to the shaft 113.Motor 136 is driven from pump 44 and is controlled by valve 138.Hydraulic cylinder 139 controls inward and outward movement of the upperend of the brush 111. The outer end of the piston rod 141 is pivotallyconnected to motor mounting support 134. The opposite end of cylinder139 is pivotally connected to clevis 142 which is attached totransversely extending rod 143 received in spring bracket 144 which ismounted on an extension 146 of the C-shaped guide frame 133. Spring 147inside bracket 144 surrounds rod 143 and bears against bracket 144 atone end and washer 148 connected to rod 143 at the other tocounterbalance the weight of the brush 111.

The two cylinders 121 and 139 operate independently and by manipulationof the controls governing the flow of hydraulic fluid to said cylinders,the brush 111 may be maintained in vertical position and moved in andout toward the side of the car, or may be tilted to conform to thecontour of the car, depending upon the width and the shape of theparticular car being washed. The operator is positioned so that he canobserve the contour of the individual cars and can manipulate thebrushes properly for inward and outward movement of each end thereof. Ina preferred embodiment of the invention, the maximum travel of eachbrush is approximately seven inches. The brush 111 is surrounded by anarcuate sheet metal shield 151 xed to arch 21 which protects theoperator from splash of the water as the brushes rotate.

Separate brushes 152 may be provided to Wash the car windows. Frequentlythe windows of railway cars are recessed relative to the sides of thecar, and, further, the elevation of windows of various cars may vary.Accordingly the window brushes 152 are made movable independently of theside brushes 111 and are vertically adjustable, as hereinafter appears.The brush 152 is mounted on a shaft 153. The upper and lower ends of theshaft 153 are received in bearing blocks 154 and 156, respectively,which kare mounted in longitudinally extending horizontal frame members157 connected to vertical members 158 at the front and rear of thebrush. A pair of horizontal transversely disposed hydraulic cylinders159 are provided for each window brush 152 to control inward and outwardmovement, one in front of and one behind the brush. The piston rods 161are pivotally connected to vertical brushv frame members 158 by clevises15711. The mounting of piston rods 161 approximately at the center ofvertical members 158 insures that the brushes 152 will bear against thewinf dows in proper parallel position and with equal pressure at top andbottom. Bearing stop 160 on the tank 22, 23 limits inward movement ofthe lower end of the lower brush bearing block 156. The opposite end ofeach cylinder 159 is pivotally connected to clevis 162 which carriesspring rod 163 slidably received in spring frame 164 which is mounted onthe arch 21. Helical spring 166 surrounding rod 163 and bearing againstspring frame 164 and washer 167 on rod 163 counterbalances the Weight ofthe brush.

Vertical movement of each brush 152 is controlled by vertically disposedcylinder 171, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to channel172 attached to arch 21. The lower end of the piston rod 173 of cylinder171 is pivotally connected to clevis 174 which is carried by motormounting bracket 176 attached to top horizontal brush frame member 157.By control of the hydraulic cylinder 171, the elevation of motormounting bracket 176 and brush shaft 153 may be adjusted for variationsin height of the windows of the car 106. The brush shaft 153 is rotatedby means of hydraulic motor 177 mounted on the motor bearing mountingbracket 176 and connected to shaft 153 by coupling 178. Twisting of themounting for the window brush 152 is restrained by means of crossbracing179 which rigidly connects the opposite cylinders 159.

Detergent of a conventional type used in railway car washing is sprayedon the sides of the car 106 by means of vertically disposed pipes 181having inwardly directed nozzles 182 on either side of the car. In orderto accommodate cars of different heights, an auxiliary pipe 183 isdisposed side by side with the main detergent pipe 181, a valve 184controlling ilow through a branch 186 which supplies the auxiliary pipe183. Detergent is pumped from detergent tank 39 through ceramic pipe 187to centrifugal pump 188 which is driven by hydraulic motor 189. Thedischarge from pump 188 is diverted partly to pipe 181 on the righthandside and partly through conduit 191 which extends around arch 21 to thedetergent pipe 181 on the lefthand side. The detergent is applied inadvance of the brushes to permit the chemical to act to loosen the dirtbefore the brushes contact the same.

Water is pumped from tank 41 by centrifugal water pumps 192 and 193, onthe left and righthand sides of the machine, respectively. Pump 193 islocated to the rear of arch 21, but because of the space occupied lbyengine 43 and pumps 44-47 on the left side, pump 192 is locatedforwardly of the arch 21. Pumps 192, 193 are driven by hydraulic motors194. Part of the water discharged by pumps 192 and 193 is diverted bypipes 196 and sprayed by nozzles 197 on brushes 111 to improve thecleaning action. The rest of the water is conveyed to verticallydisposed rinse pipes 198 disposed on either side at the rear of themachine and provided with nozzles 199 tc rinse the sides of the carafter brushing.

Pipes 198 are used for cars of standard height, but parallel auxiliaryrinse pipes 201 of extended length are used by higher cars, valve 202controlling ow to the auxiliary pipes 198.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it is understood that certain changes and modications may-be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A railway car-washing machine comprising a rst narrow, elongated tankmember on one side of said machine, a second narrow, elongated tankmember on the opposite side of said machine, an arch attached at thelower ends to said tank members and shaped to span the roof of a railwaycar, said arch being rigidly fixed to at least one said tank member, avertically disposed rotary side brush mounted on each leg of said archarranged to scrub the sides of a car over which said arch moves, a primemover on said machine, at least one hydraulic pump driven by said primemover, hydraulic traction means mounted on each of said tank members toadvance said machine, lirst means for in dependently moving the upperend of each of said side brushes perpendicularly inward and outwardrelative to the side of the car being washed, second means forindependently moving the lower end of each of said side brushesperpendicularly inward and outward relative to the side of the car beingWashed, side Abrush drive means for independently rotating each saidside brush, a rotary window brush on each side mounted on each leg ofsaid arch arranged to scrub the windows of said car, a central shaft forsaid window brush, third means for raising and lowering said shaft,fourth means for independently moving each window brush inward andoutward, window brush drive means for independently rotating each ofsaid window brushes, control means for independently manuallycontrolling ilow of hydraulic uid from said pump to each of saidtraction means, first means, second means, third means, fourth means,side brush drive means, and window brush drive means.

2. A machine according to claim 1, which further comprises independentsteering means for the front and rear of each said tank member, saidsteering means being hydraulically actuated, and steering control meansfor controlling fluid flow from said pump to said steering means.

3. A machine according to claim 1, which further comprises a detergenttank on at least one of said tank members, detergent spray pipes mountedon each said tank mem-ber in advance of said side brushes, a detergentpump for drawing detergent from said detergent tank and dischargingdetergent through said detergent spray pipes, a water tank on at leastone of said tank members, rinse pipes mounted on each said tank memberbehind said side brushes, and a water pump for drawing water from saidwater tank and discharging water through said rinse pipes, saiddetergent pump and water pump being driven by said first-mentioned pump.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS867,282 MacFarren Oct. l, 1907 989,151 Hines Apr. 11, 1911 1,951,129Coffey Mar. 31, 1934 1,988,665 Ross Ian. 22, 1935 2,278,306 Cushman Mar.31, 1942 2,390,017 Wash Nov. 27, 1945 2,530,720 Paulson Nov. 21, 19502,636,198 Wilson Apr. 28, 1953 2,646,586 Foutes July 28, 1953 2,648,342Vani et al Aug. 11, 1953 2,699,792 Fisher Jan. 18, 1955 2,708,446Phillips May 17, 1955

